For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 320
JOHN ALDEN ROBBINS....Among the honored names of Muscatine is that of Robbins, and the subject of this review is a representative of a family that has been for many years closely identified with this city. He is a native of Muscatine, born August 24, 1862, and is a son of Rev. Alden B. and Mary ( Sewell ) Robbins, the former of whom was a native of Salem, Massachusetts, and the latter of Bath, Maine. The father was born February 18, 1817, a son of David and Elizabeth ( Burrill ) Robbins, the former of whom was a lumber merchant of New York city. Alden B. Robbins received his preparatory education in the classical schools of Salem and later attended school in Brooklyn, New York, graduating at twenty-two years of age in the same class with F. D. Huntington, who became widely known as a bishop of New York state. For a short time Mr. Robbins engaged as a tutor of Latin at Hopkins Academy of Hadley, Massachusetts, and for one year was principal of the Pawtucket Academy. He then engaged in business with his father for a year, but in 1840 took up his studies at the Andover Theological School, where he remained until 1841. He became a student of the Union Theological Seminary the following year but returned to Andover and completed his theological course in 1843. On the 20th of September of the same year he was ordained as a minister of the Congregational church and shortly afterward came to Muscatine and entered upon his duties as pastor of the First Congregational church in this city, where he served as pastor until November 9, 1891, a period of forty-eight years, and as pastor emeritus from that time until his death. In 1853 he was given the degree of D. D. by Amherst Collaga. Just a week after his ordination Dr. Robbins was united in marriage at Canterbury, Connecticut, to Miss Eliza C. Hough, a daughter of Samuel L. Hough, of that city. She came to Muscatine with her husband and shared with him in his labors until 1850, when she was claimed as a victim of cholera, which was raging in the west at that time. Three children were born of their union: Dana H., Horace H., and Anna Margarette. Dana H. was born July 2, 1844, and November 17, 1874, married Alice E. Owens, of Cincinnati, Ohio.. He died June 14, 1881, leaving a widow and one daugther. Horace H. was born August 20, 1846, and married Abbie F. Whitcomb at Grinnell, Iowa, July 2, 1874. Anna Margarette was born July 2, 1848, in Ashford, Connecticut. She is the wife of Rev. H. S. De Forest, who was pastor of the Congregational churches at Des Moines, Council Bluffs and Waterloo, Iowa, becoming president of Talladega College in Alabama. On the 20th of September, 1851, Dr. Robbins was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary S. Arnold, a daughter of Ebenezer Arnold, of Bath, Maine. Of the children born of this marriage two are now living. Esther Burrill was born February 20, 1860, and on June 29, 1887, married Rev. George E. White. They are now missionaries of Marsovan, Turkey. John Alden Robbins, our subject, is the only other child of Dr. and Mrs Mary S. Robbins now living.The lifelong ministry of Dr. Robbins in Muscatine was highly effective, as is indicated by the number of years during which he served as pastor of the church. He was deeply interested in the cause of Christian education and was a trustee of Iowa College and director of the Chicago Theological Seminary for many years. He was also a trustee of the academy at Wilton Junction, Iowa. He departed this life December 27, 1896, and the universal expression of sorrow from all classes of citizens attested the esteem in which he was held by the entire community.
John Robbins was educated in the public schools of Muscatine, graduating from the high school in 1882. After laying his books aside he went to Chicago, where he continued for ten years as a bookkeeper. He was then a resident of Kansas City for one year, at the end of which time he returned to Muscatine and entered the employ of the Muscatine Oatmeal Company. In 1901 he entered the real-estate and insurance business on his own account, in which he still continues, being known as one of the most successful men of the city in this line.
On September 18, 1894, Mr. Robbins was united in marriage to Miss Mary Graham, a daughter of Israel L. and Agnes ( Butler ) Graham, and two children blessed that union, Agnes and Mary G. Mrs. Robbins having passed away, our subject was a second time married, the lady of his choice being Miss Maude McCoy, of Muscatine, a daughter of William H. and Minnie F. ( Morrison ) McCoy. The father of Mrs. Robbins was a native of Ohio and the mother of Pennsylvania. They were early settlers in Muscatine. Two children have come to gladden the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robbins, Alden Burrill and Esther Belle.
Politically Mr. Robbins is in sympathy with the republican party and served for two years as alderman of the second ward. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church and are active assistants in any enterprise which aims to promote the general welfare of the city.
Back to Biographical Index Page